???Living in residence halls is a major part of the college experience for most students. In many cases, getting in trouble on campus seems to be a rite of passage.
???"I know a lot of people who have gotten in trouble for drinking in the dorms," said Rebecca Hoy, a junior communication major.
???Drinking in the dorms is a popular offense. Other common transgressions are drug-related violations and theft, according to Todd Kamenash, associate director of Judicial Affairs.
???Students who violate the law or school rules while residing in any on-campus housing development may be referred to Judicial Affairs, where they can be assigned community service.
???"Approximately 40 percent of the students that are referred to Judicial Affairs are a result of being assigned community service sanctions by the University Residence Halls and Apartments," Kamenash said.
???Violations that can end in a trip to Judicial Affairs include underage drinking and possession or use of illegal drugs.
???"I know of someone who got in trouble because they had too many people in their room," said Chrissy Duggan, a sophomore business major. "They didn't know there was even a rule for that."
???Some Residence Hall offenses appear obvious because they are against the law, but there are many that are only set by university policies.
???"Students have access to the University Rules and Regulations, and are required to abide by them," Kamenash said. "In fact, students are required to affirm this upon their admission to UB."
???For those students who still break the rules and get caught, the next step is community service.
???"One of my friends was caught being drunk in the dorms and causing a disturbance," said Jessianne Doty, a sophomore exercise science major. "He got assigned to do about 20 hours of community service for it."
???According to Kamenash, the hours that students are assigned vary on a case-by-case basis, and there are no specific sentences paired with any offense.
???Opportunities for students to complete their community service range from on-campus programs to places around the Buffalo community. People can volunteer for the Anti-Rape Task Force (ARTF) or help out at the Gloria Parks Community Center located on Main Street.
???UB has not released a public list of community service options for students because these sites are constantly changing based on the need for volunteers and new sites becoming available, Kamenash said.
???"My friend helped with the Anti-Rape Task Force for his hours," Doty said. "He helped drive people from South Campus to places in the Heights area."
???Some may worry about the fact that the ARTF, a program that puts students' safety into others' hands, is staffed with those who have been breaking the rules. However, there is a screening process for the students who wish to complete community service through any program.
???"Prior to community service meetings, the coordinator of that meeting reviews the reason for the sanctions if they are made available," Kamenash said. "They will not sign a student up with a site that has restrictions on it pertaining to their behavioral violations, if at all possible."
???This means that a student who was accused of theft or assault will most likely not be assigned to protect students and be responsible for their safety.
???"I think community service is a good punishment," Duggan said. "Even if the offense was something like underage drinking, it's a way for students to help the community out, which is always a good thing."
???According to Kamenash, community service is assigned to be educational and address behavioral concerns. The best bet for anyone is to avoid breaking the law or the rules, and if somehow an infraction does occur, at least the community will benefit in the end.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
